Egg-holder.



G. H. MAGEE.

EGG HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1916.

E ,1 MP1 htented. Jan. 16, 1917.

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G. H. MAGEE.

EGG HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1916.

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EGG-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. in, 11947.

Application filed March 22, 1916. Serial No. 85,895.

To all whom 615 may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvn H. MAGEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a device for packing and transporting eggs, and it is more especially intended to provide an individual container adapted to securely hold the egg to permit the same to be safely shipped from place to place or conveniently stored.

A special feature of the invention is that the egg is elastically held in the container, and that the same size container will readily adapt itself, within limits, to various sizes of eggs.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a blank representing the shape of the shell of the container when flattened out. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the container in the form of a truncated cone. Fig. 3 shows a vertical sec tion through the container, the egg being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but shows the container used with a larger size egg. Fig. 5 shows a blank adapted to be folded up to form a polygonal pyramidal shaped container. Fig. 6 shows the blank of Fig. 5 folded up to form an octagonal container, the overlapping ends of the blank being fastened with staples. Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6, but shows the overlapping ends of the blank pasted, cemented, or otherwise secured together. Fig. 8 shows a knock-down blank with an adhesive strip attached for securing the overlapping edges together; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the completed container made of the blank shown in Fig. 8.

Referring first to the form of device shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, A represents the hollow shell in the form of a truncated cone, which may be made either of compressed paper, pulp composition, card or straw board, metal, or other suitable material. This container is provided with a series of short slots 1, 2, 3, 4, and a long slot 5, each of which slots preferably terminate in small circular perforations 0. A rubber band B is inserted in the slots 1 and 2, at one side of the container, and is stretched across the container and passes through the slots 3 and 4, on the opposite side thereof, and engages in the round perforations 0, preventing the container from cutting the rubber band, incident to continued use.

The slot 5 is provided merely to permit the container to spread in case the egg be shoved down with too much force, or in case a larger size egg be placed in the container. As will be seen in Fig. 4, this slot will widen when the egg is shoved down, increasing the interior cross section of the container.

In order to insert the egg C, lift the upper loop of the rubber band, press the egg down firmly in the container until it engages the lower loop of the rubber band, and then release the rubber loop and it will snap into position, engaging the egg as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The elasticity of the rubber and the friction between it and the shell of the egg, will cause the rubber to hold the egg firmly without slipping thereon. T0 withdraw the egg, lift the upper loop of the rubber band and press out the egg from the bottom of the container. It can then be readily removed.

I have shown, in Figs. 2, 8 and 4, the container in the form of a truncated cone, but for various reasons it is preferable to have the container in the form of a truncated polygonal pyramid, preferably an octagonal pyramid, and for this purpose I provide a blank such as shown in Fig. 5, which may be folded along the dotted lines 6 to form a series of pyramidal faces 7. The blank is folded along these lines 6, and the two end faces 7 are then secured together in any convenient way.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the end faces a, a, secured together, by means of the staples E, shown in Fig. 6; but this may be done in any convenient way, as by pasting or cementing them together, as shown in Fig. 7; or by providing an adhesive tab D, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the ends at of which tab may be pasted over and secured on the interior of the container, as shown in Fig. 9. This tab may be coated with mucilage or any suitable glue or cement; or, if desired, it may be made of rubbered paper or cloth, by which is understood a paper or cloth having a rubber coating which is melted by Willa-M heat, and which adheres when heated. Any other suitable mode of forming the joint might be adopted, if desired.

The rubber bands are applied to the pyramidal containers shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9, already described with reference to -Figs. 2, 3 and4, and the operation of the device is similar to that already described. But by having the container in the form of a truncated pyramid it does not touch the egg at all points, but leaves 'ainpassages between the container and the egg, which permits the passage of air therethrough, thus preventing the egg from heating. Another advantage is that the flat sides of the several faces 7 will tend to bulge out when the egg is applied, thus giving a greater degree of adjustability than the circular container shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4:. Another advantage is that'by'having the con tainer in the pyramidal form, thecontainers may be laid on their sides without rolling over, which is' especially desirable where these are stored away onshelves', tables, or the like, and where the circular container might roll off, with the resulting breaking of the egg.

While I have shown the containers in the form of octagonal truncated pyramids, it will be obvious that the pyramid may have any desired number of faces.

With any of the herein described constructions the containers may be'stood on either end without danger of breaking the egg, as-well as laid on the side, and where it is desired to preserve the eggs for longer periodswithout having the yolk settle to one side of the egg, the eggs may be very conveniently turned end to end and also sidewise by simply turning the container to the desired position. The rubber band will steady the egg in the container, and yet permit it to yield to the ars to which such packages are ordinarily subjected in trans portation.

It will be obvious that these containers might be stored on shelves, tables, or in bins, or the like,-or may be packed in other larger containers and shipped to their destination. It will beseen that the container may be used over and over again, and may be shipped either in the knocked-down form or set up, as may be desired.

It Will thus be seen that I have provided a cheap, simple, eflicient and durable contain'er,.adapted for the handling and transportation of the eggs individually, in which it may be quickly and conveniently inserted,

- or from Which it may be quickly and con veniently removed, when desired.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An egg container adapted to contain individual eggs, comprising a tapered hol low shell provided with oppositely disposed slots in the sides thereof, and a resilient band engaging in said slots and being adapted to engage the opposite ends of the egg, substantially as described.

2. An egg container adapted to contain individual eggs, comprising a tapered hollow shell provided with oppositely disposed slots in the sides thereof, and a resilient band engaging in said slots and being adapted to engage the opposite ends of the egg, the said hollow shell being also provided with an elongated slot extending through the smaller end thereof, and adapted to permit the expansion or contraction of the smaller end of said tapered shell, substantially as described.

3. An egg container adapted to contain individual eggs, comprising a 'pyramidal hollow shell provided with oppositely disposed slots in the sides thereof, and a resilient band engaging in said slots and adapted to engage the opposite ends of the egg, substantially as described.

4. An egg container adapted to contain individual eggs, comprising a hollow pyramidal shell provided with oppositely disposed slots in the sides thereof, and a resilient band engaging in said slots and being adapted to engage the opposite ends of the egg, the said hollow shell being also provided with an elongated slot extending through the small end thereof, and adapted to permit the expansion or contraction of the smaller end of said tapered shell, substantially as described.

5. A blank adapted for use with egg containers of the character described, comprising a wedge-shaped strip provided with short slots on its opposite edges and an elongated slot extending from the narrow side of said wedge, substantially as described.

6. A blank adapted for use with egg containers of the character described, comprising a wedge-shaped strip provided with short slots on its opposite edges and an elongated slot extending from the narrow side of said wedge, with means for fastening the outer ends of said strip together to form a tapered container open at both ends.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

GUSTAVE HUGEE MAGEE.

Witnesses CHAN CEY H. OWEN, E. P. REUTER.

Copies of thls patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington,1). C." i 

